←Recommendations of Bird Girl and the Hammer

The superhero genre is a pop-culture favorite because, like the myths of the past, these larger-than-life figures are a canvas for our deepest fears and desires. They are us, writ large and powerful. In BIRD GIRL AND THE HAMMER, Bethany Dickens Assaf’s witty and emotionally intelligent genre short, that desire is a break from perfection, and the fear is “am I worth anything if take one?” Bird Girl’s breakdown will feel familiar to to most of us, and especially to burnt out gifted kids and “women who have it all”. A dynamic addition to any one-act festival.

If this play wasn't about the world being destroyed by a massive killer squid and the fact the two main characters are superheroes, it would still work as a really sweet moment between two people who care for each other a lot and who have unresolved feelings. But the good news is, we get the killer squid and the superheroes as a bonus, making this warm, emotionally honest play also hilarious and slightly absurdist to boot. Lots of fun!

A hysterical short play with an eye on how modern relationships work, and don't work. I love Assaf's exploration of dating culture mixed with the impossible world of superheroes. What if a caped crusader couldn't jump into action because they're emotionally stymied in their personal life, especially by an unhealthy relationship? I'd love to see a wider world of superheroes and their dating problems, like Sex and the City with capes and cowls. Love it!

What's great about this play is that it takes the time to explore relationship ups and downs, not settling for an easy answer between the characters. Showing that despite our abilities, we all have human failings. A fine little play.

Much more to this script than meets the eye. Take away the superhero part and this is the universal relationship struggle of “If you love me, you have to accept all of me, including the uncomfortable parts.” Great story. Great characters. Excellent work.

First of all, a superhero whose powers depend entirely up to whether she's having a good day/week/month? Comedy gold. Second, the way Dickens’ artfully and subtly reveals her story’s hand is brilliant. A fun two-hander about loving your partner despite (even because of) their flaws, as well as the importance of accepting sadness’ role in life, it deserves your attention. Also, superheroes means designers get to have a field day too!